Traction-engine.



No. 794.055. PATENTED JULY 4, 1905. P. R. STEARNS & A. D. mzmmn.

TRACTION ENGINE. APPLIUATIONIILED MAR.6,1905.

2 BHEETE-EHEET 1.

gnuwdow No. 794.055. PATENTED JULY 4:, 1905. F. R. STEARNS & A. D. SKINNEE, TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.6,1905.

2 SHEETE-SHEET 2 ill'o. reacts.

irrisiii irra'rtt Patented July 4:, 19(15.

li ht'irisnr U rritcia FRANK R. STEARNS AND A'DU l). SKlNNER, OF tilt. Ni.) FORKS,

ti 'PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Itil'o. 79%0525, dated July t, 1905.

Application filed March 6, 1905. Serial No. 248,668.

ill) at IH/I/(HII/ 17/- Whit/f concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK it. S'rnauus and A no i). in [N in nu, citizens of the United Estates, residing at Grand Forks, in the county ol Grand Forks and State of North Dakota, have invented a new and useful T|'action-l lngine, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates particularly to means for leveling the boilers ol portable or traction engines either when the same are running up or down bills or when stationary upon uneven ground.

The prirmipal olrieot to provide novel means of the above character and ot' a simple liature whereby an engineer can conveniently elevate or lower one end ol the boiler upon the axle or other support for such end, so that said boiler can be kept level, thus keeping the sheets and the tubes at all times submerged and avoiding the danger of burning the same.

The preferred embodiment ol the invention is illustrated in the accompanying (.lrawings, Wl'lOlOl11--- Figure l is a side elevation of a well-known type of traction engine, showing the new leveling means :t'orming part of the same. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of said means, shown on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a sectional view therethrough. Fig. 4 is another sectional View, taken on the line 4- 4. of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is still another sectional view, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. (3 is a detail view showing the casing portion of the box in section.

Si milar reference-n u morals designate corresponding parts in all the ligurcs ol the drawings.

in the embodiment illustrated a tractionengine is shown which includes a boiler 7, having a lire-box 8 and a l ootboard 9, the lire-box end of the boiler being supported on suitable wheels 10 in any well-known manner. The specific type ot engine or boiler is not particularly in'iportant, as the improve ments are applicable to many dil'lerent makes. 'llhesc inun'ovements in the present structure are as follows: fl, journal-box in the form of a sectional ring 11 has at its upper end a ball l2, which is received in the socket l?) ot'a head 'l lr, secured to the under front portion of the boiler. "lhe lower end of the journalbox is provided with a depending pivot l5, jouri'ntled in the terminal It ol a brace bar or rod 17, that is secured at its rear end to tho lire-box, as shown at 18. lhe ournal-box, therefore, has a pivotal n'lovemont on a substaiitially vertical or upright axis. liotatably mounted in said journalbox a leveling member l.) in the term of a disk that thus has a substantially horizontal axis ol, rotation, the upper portion o'l this disk bearing against rollers 2.0, which reduce the friction to a minimum. The rollers are jmu'naled in suitable retaihing-rings 21, secured in the box, and are seated in recesses 22, Formed in the upper section ol said box. Secured eccentric: by in the leveling disk or member the supporting means for this end ol. the boiler, said means comprising an axle 3, extending transversely through the member and through the journal-box and havil'ig the usual groundwheels 24L mounted thereon. The ends of the journal-box are closed by casingavalls 2:"), and said wallsare provided with curved slots 26, which allow the up-and-down movement of the axle, these slots extending to any distance desired, but preferably, perhaps, being semicircular in order that the closure can move between a lowermost and an uppermost position. Secured to one side ol the levelingdisk and located within the box is a gear 27, having worrn-trnitl'i, and meshing with these gears is a worm 25%, carried by a shaft 529, that extends through the journal-box and has bearings thereon. The shalt 29 is composed of sections connected by a universal joint 31, and said shaft extends rearwardly to a position above the liootbcmrd ll, where a suitable hand-wlmel 32 is secured thereto, which is thus in col'ivenhmt relation to the engil'ieer.

Under ordinary coiulition, or when the boiler is dis rosed on level ground, the shal't 20 will occupy a position centrally between the limits oi its movement; but ii. the engine is running uphill or is on uneven ground with the Front of the boiler uppermost the engineer by turning the shaft .29 revolves the worm, and consequently the worm-wheel engaged thereby, so as to turn the leveling member and carry the axle nearer the boiler until said boiler assumes a horizontal position. On the l other hand, when the rear portion of the boiler is higher it is necessary to reverse the movement of the actuating-shaft 29 to carry the axle away from the boiler, thus raising the end of the boiler upon its support. At the same time the structure does not at all interfere with the turning movement of the axle in guiding or moving the engine, as the journaling of the box 11 on an upright axis permits the usual swinging movement of the axle 23. It will thus be seen that simple means are provided for leveling the boiler, thus keeping the tubes and sheets properly submerged and avoiding the danger of burning out the same. Moreover, the mechanism can be operated with ease and expedition as the engine travels and ascends or descends bills, as well as when said engine is at a standstill.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrii'icing any of the ad vantages of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is-

1. in a structure of the class described, the combination with a boiler, of means for leveling the same, said means including a boilersupport, and means connecting the boiler and support for effecting the upright oscillatory movement thereof bodily toward and from the boiler and in a direction loi'igitudinally of said boiler.

2. in a structure of the class described, the combination with a boiler, of means for leveling the same, said means including a boilersupport comprising an axle and groundwheels, and means interposed between the boiler and axle and connecting the same for cfl'ecting an upright oscillatory movement of said axle with respect to the boiler.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a boiler, of means for leveling the same, said means including a boilersupport, and means for effecting an eccentric movement of the support with respect to the boiler.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a boiler, of an axle for said boiler having an eccentric movement toward and from the same.

in a structure of the class described, the combination with a boiler, oi a rotatable leveling member journaled on the boiler and on substantially horizontal axis, and an axle eccentrically carried by the member.

6. in a structure of the class described, the

combination with a boiler, of a journal-box secured to the under side of the boiler, a rotatable leveling member journaled in the box and including a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, an axle eccentrically carried by the member, and means for rotating the memher.

7. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a boiler, of a rotatable lcveling member journaled on the boiler and on a substantially horizontal axis, an axle eccentrically carried by the member, worm-teeth mounted on said member, and an actuatingshal t having a worm meshing with the wormteeth.

8. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a boiler, of an axle, and means for eiit'ecting an eccentric movement of the axle toward and from the boiler and permitting said axle to swing on an uprightaxis.

9. in a structure of the class described, the combination with a boiler, of a rotatable leveling member journaled on the boiler on a substantially horizontal axis and also having a swinging movement on a substantially upright axis, and an axle eccentrically mounted in the leveling member.

10. in a structure oi the class described, the combination with a boiler, of a journal-box pivotally mounted on the boiler and having a substantially upright axis, a leveling member journaled in the box and having a substantially horizontal axis, and an axle eccentrically carried by the member.

1 l. in a structure oi the class described, the combination with a boiler, of a journal-box, a ball-and-soclcet joint between the upper end of the journal-box and the boiler, a brace connecting the lower end of the journal-box and boiler, a leveling member comprising a disk journaled in the box, an axle eccentrically carried by the dish, a worn'i-toothed gear connected to the disk, and an actuating-shaft having a worm meshing with the gear.

12. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a boiler, of an axle-box having a ball-and-socl et joint at its upper end with the boiler, a brace connected to the boiler and havinga journal connection with the lower end of the box, a leveling-dish arranged in the box, roller-bearings for said disk, ashal t eccen'trically mounted in the dish, casing-walls for the ends of the box, having curved slots in which the axle operates, a gear connected to the disk and located in the box, and a shaft extending into the box and having a worm meshing with the gear.

In testimony that we claim the 'loregoing as our own we have hereto aiiixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

F tANK R. STEARNS. ADO D. SKTNNER. \Vi tn esses:

H. M. Eincxsox, I BENDEKE.

lIO 

